The NY Jets will have a decision to make on as many as 28 different internal free agents this offseason, and with a new regime now in charge, the expectation is that the majority of those players will be looking for new homes in the coming days.
One player the Jets seem to be interested in bringing back, however, is cornerback Brandin Echols. Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda reported this week that re-signing Echols is a "priority" for the Jets this offseason.
The 27-year-old is set to hit free agency for the first time in his career and could garner some interest after filling in as a spot starter for the Jets over the last few years. The Jets might have bigger plans for him in 2025, though.
With D.J. Reed expected to depart via free agency, the Jets will be looking for a new starting cornerback opposite Sauce Gardner. It's possible the team views Echols as a potential replacement for Reed.
The NY Jets want to re-sign Brandin Echols
A sixth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Echols started 14 games for the Jets as a rookie in what was, at the time, one of the most inexperienced (and worst) cornerback rooms in the league.
Echols held his own in a starting role but was relegated to a depth piece following the additions of Reed and Sauce Gardner the following offseason. Since then, Echols has primarily been the team's dime back, occasionally thrust into the starting lineup as a result of injuries.
Echols has made the most of his snaps when given the opportunity. The former Kentucky standout has garnered a reputation as a playmaker, actually leading the Jets in interceptions this past season despite his limited snaps.
If the Jets are looking for a cheap, internal replacement for Reed, Echols makes some sense. The Jets could also turn to other internal options, such as 2024 fifth-round pick Qwan'tez Stiggers and 2023 sixth-round pick Jarrick Bernard-Converse, both of whom impressed this past summer.
The free-agent cornerback market isn't exactly loaded with potential starting options. Unless the Jets are willing to spend top dollar on a player like Carlton Davis or Charvarius Ward, it might be tricky to find solid value options in free agency.
That's why bringing back a player like Echols to at least compete for a starting job could make sense. That decision will largely come down to how the team's new defensive coaching staff views Echols as a player. It could also depend on his market and if he receives significant interest from other teams.
Either way, the Jets do seem to like Echols and are interested in bringing him back. That could signal that the team believes he could be elevated to a full-time starting role in 2025.
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